Former Congressman Steve Stockman has a question for Republican voters in the new 36th Congressional District: "Would you eat at a restaurant that had to pay people to say nice things about it?"

Probably not, assumes Stockman, a GOP candidate for the congressional district that runs from the Louisiana state line into southeast Harris County. In a similar vein, he encourages voters who receive a voter guide or sample ballot in the mail to toss it in the trash, saying on his website that it is from "a liberal group using a Republican name that charged liberal candidates money for their endorsement."

Stockman is alluding to the front-runner and best-known name in the race, state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, who is among the more conservative lawmakers in Austin.

The 2010 U.S. census allowed Texas to add four new congressional districts, bringing the total to 36, second only to California. In addition to a portion of Harris County, the 36th includes six East Texas counties and Chambers and Orange counties along the coast. Twelve Republicans and one Democrat are running.

Endorsed by Nugent

Stockman, for whom the term "wild card" was invented, is back, nearly two decades after he upset U.S. Rep. Jack Brooks in 1994. The powerful Beaumont Democrat, a Lyndon Johnson protegé, had served in Congress for 42 years.

Stockman's own congressional career was somewhat shorter. After dallying with militia groups, accusing the federal government of "executing" members of the Branch Davidian cult and being branded "Congressman Clueless" by Texas Monthly magazine, he was ousted after one term. He lost to Nick Lampson, a Beaumont Democrat now running for Congress in Ron Paul's old district.

This time, Stockman is touting an endorsement from musician and gun-rights enthusiast Ted Nugent and is "proud to be targeted for defeat by gun-grabbers like Sarah Brady."

Despite his controversial past, Stockman, 55, could force Jackson into a runoff, as could Stephen Takach, an Edward Jones financial adviser. The Baytown resident has spent about $300,000 on the race, compared to Jackson's $211,000, and is running ads on cable TV and radio.

"I've got more skin in the game than anybody, because I believe in what I'm doing," Takach said.

Takach, 50, says he probably is the only candidate in the race with daily, hands-on experience dealing with budgets and helping people manage their money. He proposes providing a $20,000 federal tax credit to companies willing to hire someone who has been unemployed for at least a year.

Local political prognosticator Robert Miller said he expects to see Takach in a runoff with Jackson, with the veteran lawmaker the favorite.

'It's really perplexing'

Jackson, a 58-year-old La Porte resident who owns an industrial construction business, served five terms in the Texas House before being elected to the Texas Senate in 1998.

"In my 20-plus years of public service, I've been in a lot of elections, and I've never had an election like this," he said. "It's really perplexing."

Jackson said he has encountered Stockman on the campaign trail only once but has to be concerned about him because of his name identification.

Like Jackson and the other Republicans in the race, Morrell supports balancing the federal budget, eliminating various federal agencies and lessening the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

The winner of the GOP primary will face the only Democrat in the race, Clear Lake resident Max Martin, the owner of an educational software business and a first-time candidate. The Libertarian candidate is Michael Cole.